The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has called for collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to create engagement opportunities for ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.
During a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, in Abuja on Thursday, the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, said the commission’s support would strengthen the post-training empowerment scheme of the programme.
Otuaro explained that many of the beneficiaries of the PAP have completed formal education and vocational training in relevant fields, making them qualified to contribute to national growth and development.
According to him, the programme has produced a pool of skilled human resources that can be utilised for the socio-economic advancement of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
He said, “We are on a mission to seek support and collaboration with government agencies like the NCC to see how some of them can be engaged so that they can contribute their quota to national development.
The whole scope of the programme centres on national and human security where the beneficiaries are trained in formal education and vocational skills, including information technology. Many persons have been trained in various professional fields.”
The PAP boss added that over 18,000 persons have been trained under the initiative and are ready to be engaged.
“These are potential human resources that should be harnessed for national development. By the design of the programme, we have the post-training, employment and empowerment component. So we have an army of human resources that will contribute to national growth when engaged. We also have persons with doctors of philosophy (PhDs) that can be easily engaged, and that is the essence of the human capacity development that we carry out,” he said.
In response, Dr Maida assured that the NCC is committed to supporting initiatives that promote human capacity development and provide equal opportunities. He noted that interventions must show value to ensure lasting impact.
Maida also stressed the importance of infrastructure security to protect digital assets and maintain nationwide digital connectivity, which is key to economic development and inclusive growth.